It appears highly improbable that one key player from Sunderland will remain with the club beyond this summer. The team’s transfer activities in recent windows have led to a disappointing second season in the Championship.
After surpassing expectations in the previous season, Sunderland needed to strengthen their squad, particularly by acquiring a proven goal scorer and balancing experience with promising young talent. However, instead of bolstering the team, they parted ways with players like Danny Batth and Alex Pritchard, while bringing in inexperienced teenagers.
This poor decision-making has had a noticeable impact on the team’s performance, resulting in a decline this season. Kristjaan Speakman, the sporting director, will need to revise the transfer strategy and undertake a significant squad overhaul this summer to revive the team’s fortunes.
While Speakman has primarily overseen transfers, it’s been reported that Tony Mowbray was allowed to bring in Bradley Dack last summer, deviating from the established model.
Sunderland flop ‘unlikely’ to stay
Dack stands as the sole player aged over 24 to have been acquired by the club since 2022, joining on a free transfer following his release from Blackburn Rovers last year. While he had showcased his abilities under Mowbray at Rovers, his tenure there was marred by injuries, hampering his return to the starting lineup.
Similarly, Dack has faced challenges at Sunderland, enduring a thigh injury that sidelined him for approximately four months. Since his arrival at the Stadium of Light, he has only managed five starts. With a one-year contract signed last summer, the 30-year-old’s stint with the club is set to conclude in a couple of months.
Journalist James Copley, writing for the Sunderland Echo, suggests that Sunderland are unlikely to exercise an extension in Dack’s contract, indicating that he is likely to depart the club on a free transfer.
Will Bradley Dack still leave a gap?
Dack’s reported weekly earnings of approximately £15,000 translate to Sunderland shelling out over £700,000 in wages by the time his tenure at the club concludes. Despite fans’ initial optimism upon his arrival, Dack’s injury history always posed a significant risk.
It appeared that Mowbray was granted leeway in bringing Dack to Wearside, a move that ultimately underscored the pitfalls of leaving transfer decisions solely in his hands. As one of the few “senior” players in the squad, Dack’s impending departure highlights the pressing need for more seasoned individuals within the team.
However, it’s crucial for Sunderland to prioritize quality over just age in their recruitment efforts, especially considering their existing roster of injury-prone players.
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